Making the Most of Newsflash Deals

I’m ashamed to admit that Barcelona was not at the top of my personal must-see destinations list. I thought that I’d get around to it one day but not anytime soon. Everything changed with one Newsflash email announcing that airfare had dropped to $260 roundtrip from New York. Seeing as that route is usually double the cost, I frantically dropped what I was doing to send out mass-emails to friends. I had to find people to book an unplanned European vacation with me at the drop of a hat. It was a stressful process but that trip turned out to be one of the most amazing vacations I’ve ever taken.

If you’re not acquainted with Travelzoo’s Newsflash, now is the time to get signed up. This email has all kinds of deals, from airfare to vacations and entertainment, that pertain to your area and they are always jaw-dropping low prices. The one issue with deals as hot as these is that you have to act fast to get them. My Barcelona airfare sold out in less than 12 hours.

Today’s hot deal is another one that has Travelzoo Deal Experts talking. Last-minute sailings from Boston for weeklong cruises to Bermuda have been cut to $99 per person. [Editor's note: This offer is now sold out.] That’s less than $15 per day for an all-inclusive beach vacation! Book soon; this offer ends tonight. And just because you don’t live in Boston doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of this deal. People on the East Coast can pair a cheap fare or train ticket to get to the port.

Here are some tips to get the most out of Newsflash deals:

• Develop a buddy system: Create a travel contacts group in your email and include friends and family members who are willing to drop what they are doing to plan an unexpected vacation if the price is right. As soon as a stellar deal is spotted, sound the alarm -- just make sure everyone knows that time is of the essence and that everyone has a passport.
• Know thou holiday schedule: Whether it’s floating holidays or random days off for local celebrations, every company has a different vacation schedule. Keep a list next to your computer of the holidays your company observes so you don’t burn through all of your vacation time.
• Keep an open mind about destinations: I would have never spent my birthday enjoying paella along the Mediterranean if I had stuck firm to my dream-vacation spots. Keep an open mind and you might just find that a Newsflash-inspired trip can be one of your most memorable. Plus, it’s always fun to tell people how much you booked your deal for and let the jealousy ensue.